a bleeding purple utah jazz blog

Game 15 Jazz vs. Nuggets: Consistently Inconsistent

I loved the second half. The Jazz were scrappy and hustling and physical. And they won. But that does erase the memory of the unwatchable suckswamp that was the first half, or make it all okay.

H/T @edwin_nba for pointing out the following:

With 3.6 seconds to go in the game and Denver having possession, Tyrone Corbin decided to sub Derrick Favors out for DeMarre Carroll. Big Al proceeded to take himself out of the game so that Favors could stay on the floor.

As Big Al headed to the bench (:30 mark), he gave Favors a “go get ’em” slap on the head. Talk about being just an incredible teammate.

(This is the second time, that we know of, that Big Al “made” a coaching decision and it ended with the Jazz getting a W. Remember the game last season against Oklahoma City, when Corbin drew up the last shot for Al, and Al said it should go to Paul Millsap instead?)

Image via the Salt Lake Tribune

Quotage**Al Jefferson, post-game: We weren’t doing nuttin in that first half. They dunking the ball, laughing in our face…If I were them, I would’ve done it too. I guess we just said, enough is enough, and we go out there and play Utah Jazz basketball.

** Earl Watson, post-game: Third game back, feels really good. I forgot how much I love the referees.

**Tyrone Corbin on Big Al, post-game: Oh man, he was focused. I mean, he understood the sense of urgency. We were struggling in that first half. We wanted to get the ball in his hands, and he did a good job of mixing his moves up…and the team followed him. You know, we wanted to get him the ball, he made some great passes out of the post.

**Derrick Favors on his free throws: I was pissed when I missed that last one.

**Favors on whether he felt pressure at the line: Nah, I don’t feel no pressure, man. I look for those moments, personally. ‘Cause I work so hard on the free throws, [and] I want to be in the last minutes of the game.

**Favors on the Jazz crowd: We feed off of them. They start gettin’ crunk, gettin’ wild. We come out there with a lot of energy.*
* Hey world, you hear that? Utah gets crunk.

**DeMarre Carroll on beating the team that cut him: That’s what make it even more special. I know I could contribute for that team, but the Jazz had faith in me. And look at me now.

**Carroll, post-game: Big Al sparked it up towards the end of the first half, and then it just carried on to the second half. He got me hyped, he got everybody hyped.*
* I assume he means Big Al figuratively “sparked it,” but I can’t be sure.

Unintentional Dirty Quote Machines of the Night (UDQM)** Millsap on Faried, shootaround: He got a motor that never stops. You know, he’s gonna continue to go at it.** Boler on Faried: Boy, he’s got a lot of tricks in his bag.** Harpring: I’m not so sure Favors can front McGee. You gotta play behind him.** Harpring: It’s about time someone stepped up and gave me a fist pump.** Harpring: I need at least three fist pumps per game. (H/T @kidfromkor) Boler: How many did you get? Harpring: I got two. Boler: Saving the biggest for last as Kanter comes in.** Harpring: Gallinari’s been quiet tonight, but this guy can get going quick.** Boler on Favors: Take it up big fella!** Boler: Carroll knocks it away. Here comes Earl Watson with his head up, between the legs to Carroll.** Harpring: Watch Kanter. He goes up the first time; he gets blocked. But doesn’t give up, goes at it once more. Use the pump fake, use the big body, and scores.** Harpring: It’s getting physical down low. (H/T @dianaallen)** Harpring: They gotta find a way to do it 48 minutes, one, and then they gotta find a way to take it on the road. (H/T @5kl)** Corbin on Favors, post-game: I thought he did a good job being big inside.

And speaking of unintentionally dirty, Tyrone has got to get his pocket square under control…